Infighting and lack of vision threaten Democratic Party's future, warns columnist

A sharp critique of the Democratic Party's internal strife and perceived lack of vision has been voiced by political commentator Sung Han-yong. He argues that escalating conflicts, exemplified by the "Myeongcheongdaejeon" (referring to a perceived rivalry between President Lee Jae-myung and Representative Jeong Cheong-rae) and the "Munjo-tolaeyu" (a derogatory term grouping figures like former President Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Eo-jun, Jeong Cheong-rae, and Yoo Si-min), are weakening the party.

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Is the current Democratic Party the same party that President Kim Dae-jung started as a party for the middle and working classes, and that President Roh Moo-hyun dreamed of as a national party?

Sung contends that these internal disputes, often initiated through harsh rhetoric, are exploited by external forces aiming to sow division. He points to terms like "Jongbuk" (pro-North Korea sympathizer) and "watermelon" (a slur used against Lee Jae-myung's rivals) as historical examples of how internal labels can be weaponized. The "Myeongcheongdaejeon" and "Munjo-tolaeyu" phenomena, he suggests, were initially created for amusement but have been amplified by conservative factions seeking to fracture the ruling party.

The columnist places responsibility not only on external actors but also on key figures within the party, including Representative Jeong Cheong-rae and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. Sung questions the underlying values and justifications for Jeong's bid for party leadership, dismissing slogans like "judging the forces of rebellion" or "abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers" as lacking relevance to public welfare. Similarly, he dismisses Kim Min-seok's "strong and capable Democratic Party" as an empty slogan, noting that no one would advocate for a "losing, weak, and incompetent" party.

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At some point, the working class disappeared, and the middle class became the upper-middle class. The Democratic Party is a party for the top 20%. Through one-person, one-vote, it represents the interests of those in their 40s and 60s who own a house in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Sung laments the erosion of the Democratic Party's core identity, quoting a former lawmaker who questioned if the party still represents the middle and working classes as envisioned by former presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun. He criticizes the party's shift towards representing the interests of the upper 20%, particularly homeowners in the Seoul metropolitan area aged 40-60. The column also highlights the party's failure to address the concerns of the 2030 generation, who are reportedly frustrated by job scarcity, intergenerational inequality, and perceived unfairness, citing past controversies like the Incheon International Airport Corporation incident and the LH scandal as examples of mishandled issues.

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What values and principles will Jeong Cheong-rae use to become the party leader again? Judging the forces of rebellion? That has already been proven ineffective in the June 3rd elections. The complete abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers? It is questionable how much this relates to people's livelihoods.

Ultimately, Sung warns that a party lacking clear values, vision, and problem-solving capabilities is destined for electoral failure. He concludes that if the Democratic Party continues on its current path of internal conflict, its prospects in the 2028 general election and the 2030 presidential election are in serious jeopardy.

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Kim Min-seok's 'winning Democratic Party, strong Democratic Party, capable Democratic Party' is nothing more than an empty slogan of agitation. No one would say they want to create a 'losing, weak, and incompetent' Democratic Party.